I believe that we're at the very nascent beginnings of web marketing in the political sphere, and as studies, like this one from the AP, suggest, more and more of the millions of dollars of campaign funding will go towards SEO, PPC & web content strategies. From the piece:

35 percent in this country say they look to the Internet for political news _ a number that rises to 43 percent among likely voters. Online political browsers are most likely to go to news sites such as those operated by the newspapers, networks and newsmagazine _ with almost nine in 10 saying they check such sites. More than one-third go to candidates' sites and almost half go to political sites.

Looking at a few political searches (that are almost certainly heavily trafficked), it's easy to see where this trend might be headed.

If you look at nearly any contested race in the US, you'll see AdWords campaigns, blogs, news articles and some results that could be "reputation management." SEOmoz has been approached about a national campaign (which we turned down), but I wonder - have you seen more activity in the SEO sphere from the world of politics? Would you be willing to take on a campaign in that arena? Do you think there's already a large amount of work being done in this space?

Perhaps, most important of all, are voters likely to use search engines for information about elections?

p.s. Let's keep the discussion purely on the SEO/industry implications and not on the political topics themselves. Thanks!

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Comments
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I think that more and more politicians better be aware of their Internet presence, good or bad. I liked Eric Schmidt's "Truth Predictor" idea I mentioned here: http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/006571.h...
From an SEO standpoint, I would want positive information optimized, and to figure a way to influence the Truth Predictor if/once it arrives.

Political parties have already begun to use the web and search especially for their benefit. The NY Times posted an article about political Google bombing and I know from searches on political races here in Texas that this is not an isolated few, but many groups who are using these techniques.
I would be wary of taking on a campaign in this arena personally b/c there is a thin line that is being walked here.

this one from the AP, suggest, more and more of the millions of dollars of campaign funding will go towards SEO, PPC & web content strategies. From the piece:

Which brings up another bizarre scenario
Imagine hiring an SEO who gets so pressured, they start using black hat techniques - resulting in a hi-profile Google banning. (...gate)
Imagine a conspiracy where money exchanged hands to get a better placement on organic SERPs - or above you r competitor in PPCs
Or REALLY, viscious Google-Bombing for the certain 'ROFL' terms
Don't say any of these could not happen in the future.
Search Engines WEB for President! :-D